Chapter 87: The Last Bloodline
Melynda clutched the edge of the brown envelope. Her fingers felt stiff. She took a deep breath before ripping the seal open. Inside were several technical documents and blurry surveillance photos. Melynda’s eyes moved fast, scanning the lines on the first page.
"A military logistics manifest?" Melynda muttered.
"Not just logistics. It is proof that Marco D'Angelo has bought off foreign mercenaries. He is no longer using common thugs to hit this place," Don Cardios replied.
"Ugh." Frans peeked over Melynda’s shoulder. He saw the list of heavy weapons on the page. "High-caliber machine guns? Portable rocket launchers? He really wants to level this house to the ground."
"Marco D'Angelo has lost his mind since Agatha’s brainwashing failed. He feels humiliated. For a man like him, total destruction is the only way to restore his pride," Don Cardios said while staring straight down the quiet medical hallway.
Melynda flipped to the next page. She found a detailed map of the Valois estate with red crosses on several vital points. "He knows the position of our basement. How is that possible?"
"He has eyes in every corner of this city, Melynda. Do not underestimate his bloodlust," Don Cardios answered.
Melynda lowered the paper. She looked at the old man in front of her with suspicion. The neon lights reflected in her sharp eyes.
"Why are you helping us, Don Cardios? We are not allies. The Cardios family has not interfered in anything for decades. Why do you come now bringing such detailed information?" Melynda asked.
Don Cardios fell silent for a moment. He signaled his aide, Marco, to step back a few paces. The young man obeyed and stood tall near the elevator. Don Cardios then pulled a final piece of paper from his jacket pocket. The sheet was folded neatly.
"Read this," Don Cardios said shortly.
Melynda took the paper. It was not an intelligence report. It was a lab result from a genetic center in Zurich. The names at the top were Agatha and Leonard Cardios.
"DNA test results?" Melynda frowned. "Leonard was your son who passed away twenty-three years ago, wasn’t he?"
"Yes. He and his wife died in a very tragic car accident. We only found their bodies," Don Cardios said. His voice shook slightly at the end of the sentence.
"Then what does this have to do with Agatha?" Frans asked, confused.
"I kept a lock of Leonard’s hair since the day of the funeral. I kept it as a final memento. During the last dinner party, I took a sample of her hair secretly," Don Cardios explained.
Melynda saw the row of numbers at the bottom of the paper. Ninety-nine point nine percent. The genetic match between Agatha and the late Leonard Cardios was perfect.
"God." Melynda covered her mouth with her palm. "Agatha is your granddaughter?"
"She is my lost little rose, Melynda. Agatha is my own flesh and blood. She is the sole heir to the Cardios family that I have been searching for all over the world," Don Cardios said. His eyes looked watery but his expression remained hard.
"So that is why Marco D'Angelo kidnapped her? He knew who Agatha really was?" Frans asked.
"No, he did not know. He only wanted the perfect killing weapon," Don Cardios answered.
Melynda leaned her back against the wall. Her head felt dizzy. "This is too sudden. Agatha is a very cold hitwoman. How could she come from a respected family like the Cardios?"
"The environment shaped her into a monster, Melynda. But blood never lies. Now do you understand why I will not let Marco D'Angelo touch this house? I am not here to save the Valois. I am here to protect my granddaughter and my great-grandchild in her womb," Don Cardios stated firmly.
"Ahh." Melynda let out a long sigh. She glanced at the ICU glass. "This situation is getting more complicated. If Marco D'Angelo finds out Agatha is pregnant with Xavier’s child, he will only get crazier."
"That is why we must strike first. I have deployed all the elite Cardios forces to surround Marco’s base from the outside. We will pin them down in the middle of this forest," Don Cardios said.
"But Xavier and Agatha are still not conscious. How can we move while protecting them?" Frans asked.
"We do not have time to wait for them to wake up naturally, Frans. Marco, bring the case here," Don Cardios ordered.
His aide immediately approached and opened the black briefcase he was carrying. Inside were several small bottles containing a deep-blue liquid.
"What is that?" Pierre asked as he suddenly appeared from the operating room.
"A high-level nerve stimulant. This will force their brains to wake up in a short time. I know it is risky, but we need Xavier right now," Don Cardios said.
"That could damage their nerve cells, Don! Especially since Agatha’s condition is very weak because of her pregnancy!" Pierre protested.
"Give it to Xavier only. Let Agatha wake up on her own. We need the Valois leader to head this defense," Don Cardios replied.
Pierre looked at Melynda. Melynda gave a slow nod even though her heart felt heavy. They entered Xavier’s room. The smell of antiseptic stung their noses. The sound of the heart monitor was monotonous.
"Beep... beep... beep..."
Pierre prepared the syringe. He pushed the needle into Xavier’s IV line. The blue liquid slowly flowed into the man’s bloodstream.
"Ugh... mmhh..."
In just seconds, Xavier’s body began to react. His fingers gripped the bedsheets until they wrinkled. His chest rose and fell rapidly. Cold sweat began to soak his bandaged forehead.
"Xavier? Can you hear me, son?" Melynda called out.
"Akh... hhh... hhh..." Xavier groaned under his breath.
His tightly closed eyes began to move under his lids. The muscles in his arms tensed. The heart monitor beside the bed beeped faster and faster.
"His blood pressure is spiking, Doc!" a nurse reported.
"Stay in your position! Do not let him pull out the IV line!" Pierre ordered.
"Brak!"
Xavier suddenly jerked his hand until the IV pole beside him rocked hard. He tried to sit up but his body was still too weak. His eyes opened slowly. At first, his vision was vacant and blurry.
"Xavier?" Melynda held her son’s shoulder.
Xavier blinked a few times. He stared at the ceiling of the room with confusion. The sound of his breathing was still ragged.
"Mother?" Xavier’s voice sounded very raspy and broken.
"Yes, it is Mama. You are home, Xavier. You are safe," Melynda said while crying tears of relief.
Xavier turned his head slowly. He saw Frans, then his eyes locked onto the figure of Don Cardios standing at the end of the room. He tried to remember what happened. The events at the forest cabin began to flash in his mind.
"Agatha..." Xavier muttered. He tried to get up again with his remaining strength. "Where is... Agatha?"
"Take it easy, Xavier. Agatha is next door. She is still sleeping," Frans said while holding Xavier’s chest so he would not fall out of bed.
"Ugh... I have to... see her..." Xavier winced in pain as the burns on his chest pulled.
Xavier looked at Melynda with a very sharp gaze. "What happened? How long was I out?"
"Two days, Xavier. The situation outside is very chaotic. Marco D'Angelo is on his way here," Melynda answered honestly.
Xavier fell silent. He tried to regulate his breathing which still felt heavy. He looked at his hands which were covered in scars and bandages. His last memory was holding Agatha in the middle of a pool of blood.
"She survived? She really survived?" Xavier asked again. His voice began to sound stronger.
"She survived and there is something you need to know, Xavier," Melynda said. She glanced at Don Cardios. "This is not just about Agatha. This is about your child."
Xavier froze. He looked at his mother with wide eyes. "Child? What do you mean?"
"Agatha is pregnant, Xavier. You are going to be a father," Melynda whispered.
Xavier was stunned. He leaned his head back against the pillow weakly. His world seemed to stop spinning for a moment. There was a feeling of immense joy mixed with a deep fear hitting his chest at the same time.
"Ahh." Xavier let out a long breath. He looked at his shaking hands.
Suddenly, a small explosion was heard from outside the estate. The ground felt like it vibrated slightly.
"Bum!"
"They have reached the front gate!" a guard shouted through the radio Frans was carrying.
Xavier immediately ripped the tape holding the IV needle in his hand. Blood seeped out slightly from the needle mark, but he did not care.
"Ugh... help me up, Frans," Xavier ordered in a tone that could not be argued with.
"Mr. Xavier, you have not fully recovered!" Pierre exclaimed.
Xavier looked at Pierre with red eyes full of rage. "Give me a weapon. I do not care about my injuries. If Marco D'Angelo wants to destroy my family, he will have to step over my dead body first."
Don Cardios stepped forward. He stood right in front of Xavier. "Glad to see you are awake, grandson-in-law. Let us finish this once and for all."
Xavier looked at Don Cardios with confusion but he could feel the great authority from the man. He nodded slowly.
"Frans, take me to the monitor room. Mama, stay here with Agatha. Do not let anyone in without my permission," Xavier ordered while trying to get out of bed.
Xavier stood with shaking legs. He gripped Frans’s shoulder so he would not fall. Although his face was still deathly pale, the look in his eyes had returned to that of a predator ready to strike.
"Let us show Marco D'Angelo what happens when he dares to touch a Valois," Xavier muttered coldly.